ARTS AND BELONGING GRANTS
CCF has a long history of supporting arts and culture through grants to community-based nonprofit organizations that enrich people’s lives and enhance Cambridge’s vitality. CCF is building upon this work with two new arts and belonging grant opportunities that support social cohesion in Cambridge. Learn more below.
Grantmaking process
Background
Social cohesion, one of the pillars of our strategic plan, is strengthened when individuals feel and act as part of a group that is oriented toward working together. The arts are important drivers of social cohesion; they uplift and inspire, help people bridge differences, create new ways of understanding one another, and foster a sense of shared purpose and belonging.
According to research, equitable, place-based arts and culture build a sense of belonging* when they:
- share power equitably and build community ownership
- connect and include people identifying in many different ways
- help communities come together to advance common goals
- cultivate platforms for diverse forms of cultural practice
Yet, despite their essential role in building belonging and promoting community well-being, arts and culture organizations are especially vulnerable to financial instability and face many barriers to growth.
*Our definition of belonging was drafted by our consultants, Congruence Cultural Strategies, and edited by CCF staff and Cambridge stakeholders in a Fall 2024 planning process. Sources include WE-Making by Metris Arts Consulting, Belonging Without Othering by john a. powell and Stephen Menendian, and Notes on a Cultural Strategy for Belonging by Evan Bissell.
Grants
Our arts and belonging grants are the first step in a multi-phased arts and belonging strategic initiative developed as part of the Cambridge Community Foundation’s (CCF) ongoing commitment to fostering social cohesion and addressing the unique needs of our arts and culture community. Emerging from feedback gathered during a community listening initiative conducted in the fall of 2024, which highlighted the challenges faced by arts and culture organizations in Cambridge, these grants aim to address the need for stable, long-term funding, support for marginalized communities, and the opportunity to grow and sustain impactful programs.
AT A GLANCE
APPLICATION PERIOD
Letter of Interest opens May 1 and closes June 3, 2025
Invitations to apply to be sent June 2025
GRANTS OVERVIEW
Multi-year general operating grants supporting community impact and grassroots organizations dedicated to building belonging through the arts in Cambridge, fostering community engagement and social cohesion.
CONTACT
Brandon Solis
Programs and Grantmaking Associate, Cultural Vibrancy
✉ Send an email
🗓 Book a meeting
☎ 617.865.2334
Community Impact Grants
Eligibility criteria:
- Nonprofits and fiscally sponsored entities with annual budgets of over $250,000
- Have been actively operating in Cambridge for at least one year
- Strengthening agency, self-determination, and power among historically excluded communities in Cambridge
- Serve individuals and groups who have been marginalized or made to feel unwelcome in other spaces
- Act as a hub for diverse groups, activities, and connections
- Provide consistent and regular arts and culture programming
Grassroots Grants
Eligibility criteria:
- Nonprofits and fiscally sponsored entities with annual budgets of $250,000 or less
- Have been actively operating in Cambridge for at least one year
- Cultivate under-supported or emerging artistic and cultural talent
- Consistently serve a specific community or group through regular programming
- Build agency, self-determination, and power among historically excluded communities in Cambridge
Frequently Asked Questions
All organizations must submit a letter of interest to determine their eligibility. It is also helpful to read the criteria above to determine which type of application – community impact or grassroots – you should express interest in.
Right now, we’re not accepting applications directly. Instead, we are inviting community members to submit letters of interest if they believe their organization is doing impactful arts work around belonging in Cambridge. Once letters of interest are in, our team will reach out to eligible organizations with more information on how to apply.
We’re still finalizing details for the application launch – scheduled for June 2025. In the meantime, our focus is on gathering interest and confirming eligibility. Stay tuned — we’ll share updates once the application timeline is confirmed.
You can submit a letter of interest for any eligible nonprofit organization whose work uses the arts to build belonging and community in Cambridge. This includes organizations working in visual arts, music, dance, theater, and other creative disciplines that help connect people and foster a sense of inclusion.
After the letter of interest closes, our team will review the submissions to confirm which organizations meet the application criteria. Those eligible will be contacted directly with details on how to apply.
If you know of a Community Impact or Grassroots organization whose work aligns with the goals of this grant, there is space within the letter of interest form to submit a nomination for another organization. It’s quick and simple — you’ll just need to share a few details about the organization and why you believe they should be considered.
For any questions about the nomination process or the upcoming grants, contact Brandon Solis, at [email protected].
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